Racism does Exist

Racism is unfortunately present even to this day and age. It is a sad truth that will always haunt this nation, but what if racism came from a four year old child? It made me ask, what are the parents teaching their kids at home these days? The story I intend to share is a true story that happened recently, but I won’t be mentioning names to protect their identity.

“We were all stunned,” one of my co-workers told me when she visited me in my department. Out of curiosity, I asked her why.

A four year old child was separated from his mother. The child had been looking for his mother for quiet sometime. After roaming around the store,he finally gave up and came up to the register asking for help.

“I was afraid someone will snatch me,” the child told the cashier who happened to be white.

“I will make sure that we will find your mother, just stay there because I will call for help” the cashier reassured him.

The cashier used her radio to ask for help and immediately one of my co-workers who were nearby came up to the register. She talked to the child trying to calm him down. She asked questions about his mother, so she could page her. In the beginning the child did not say a word. She tried to convince him to give the name his mother, so they could find her.

“I can’t forget the look on that child’s face when he said, my mommy told me not to talk to black people.”

“We were all stunned with his answer, and all I said was wow.”

When she was narrating the story, I couldn’t help but see the disappointment in her. What are the parents teaching their kids these days? I wonder if he asked his mother why he couldn’t talk to black people. I wonder what the answer of the mother was. That child will grow to be hateful which I considered a vicious cycle. He will have this family soon, and I am sure without hesitation he will also forbid his children to talk or be around black people. It is a sad reality.